911 data messaging

Abstract

A short messaging system (SMS) emergency services 911 system (SMS E911). Excess non-voice capacity is used to establish a Short Message Service (SMS) capability for generating an emergency 911 “equivalent” call, together with location information required by emergency services and to meet Federal 911 requirements. 911 requests for emergency assistance are delivered using non-voice centric sources such as SMS, email, and / or autonomous data / message generation devices. SMS 911 capability enables SMS savvy consumers to generate requests for emergency assistance to the local Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). The SMS 911 emergency services request can be understood by an otherwise conventional PSAP, including provision of location information, and translated to provide first responders with the emergency services information they need to offer timely assistance.

Description

[0001]This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 848,655, filed Oct. 3, 2006, entitled “911 Data Messaging”, to Morin et al., the entirety of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]This invention relates generally to telecommunications. More particularly, it relates to location based services (LBS) and wireless emergency services such as E911, and short messaging system (SMS) messaging.[0004]2. Background of the Related Art[0005]9-1-1 is a phone number widely recognized in North America as an emergency phone number that is used to contact emergency dispatch personnel. Enhanced 9-1-1 (E9-1-1) is defined by an emergency call being selectively routed to an appropriate PSAP, based on a special identifier (P-ANI, or “Pseudo Automatic Number Identifier”, also referred to as “ESxK”), and includes the transmission of callback number and location information when 9-1-1 is used. E9-1-1 ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

A primary challenge results from the fact that calls may arrive at the PSAP without the caller's actual callback number or location information displayed at the emergency operator's terminal.

There is currently no one single standard interface protocol for PSAP-ALI connection / communication.

However, the ALI 401 is not pre-provisioned with location data for non-landline calls (e.g. cellular, VoIP etc) and must communicate with other network entities to obtain and deliver location data to the PSAP 400.

This was experienced during the Sep. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks during which voice telecommunications along the east coast was subjected to service failures.

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